Books
Developmental approach or Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) model and Floortime books including Neurodiversity-Affirming Topics
Please consider using Amazon Smile to support the International Council on Development and Learning, the home of DIRFloortime® and not-for-profit organization that relies on donations to support their outreach. You may also find ICDL’s booklist helpful. Also you may enjoy this list of books on autism and neurodiversity from The Autistic Advocate, this list of books from ICDL’s booklist, and Therapy Keeper’s booklist on their homepage. These developmental approach books by Alfie Kohn and by Ross Greene are also very in line with the philosophy of DIRFloortime®.
We Chose Play: Raising an Autistic Child to Thrive and Feel Understood by Daria C. Brown 2025
The Floortime Manual 2nd Edition by Jake Greenspan 2024
Autistischen Kindern Brücken bauen: Ein Elternratgeber by Sibylle Janert 2024
Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma by Amy Pearson and Kieran Rose 2023
Autismus beziehungsorientiert behandeln: Handbuch zur DIRFloortime-Methode (Treating autism relationally: DIRFloortime Manual) by Sibylle Janert, Andre Zirnsak, Ilaria Acerbi, and Stephanie Hohndorf 2023
Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children: A Guide for Autistic Wellbeing by Luke Beardon 2021
What’s with the New Kid: My Autism My Story by Turrell Burgess 2021
Reclaiming Our Students Why Children Are More Anxious, Aggressive, and Shut Down Than Ever – And What We Can Do About It by Hannah Beach and Tamara Neufeld Strijack 2020
The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and Downs of Relationships Are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience, and Trust by Claudia M. Gold and Ed Tronick 2020
Familienleben: Liebevolle und klare Kindererziehung by Sibylle Janert 2018
Autism: The Movement Sensing Perspective (Frontiers in Neuroscience) by Elizabeth B. Torres and Caroline Whyatt 2017
Social and Emotional Development in Early Intervention by Mona Delahooke 2017
Respecting Autism: The Rebecca School DIR Casebook for Parents and Professionals by Stanley I. Greenspan and Gil Tippy 2017
The Floortime Manual by Jake Greenspan 2017
Autistischen Kindern Brücken bauen: Ein Elternratgeber by Sibylle Janert 2016
Behavioral Challenges in Children with Autism and Other Special Needs by Diane Cullinane 2016
Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry M. Prizant 2016
Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One) by Dr. Deborah MacNamara 2016
Autism: The Potential Within: The PLAY Project Approach to Helping Young Children with Autism by Richard Solomon 2016
Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman 2015
Floortime Strategies to Promote Development in Children and Teens: A User’s Guide to the DIR Model by Andrea Davis, Michelle Harwell, and Lahela Isaacson 2014 (See our podcast about the book here.)
Treatment Planning for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Individualized, Problem-Solving Approach by Naomi Chedd and Karen Levine 2013
Our Greatest Allies: Respect, Relationship and Intervention… a Child’s Journey by Maude LeRoux and Lauren O’Malley 2012
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson 2012
The Learning Tree: Overcoming Learning Disabilities from the Ground Up by Stanley I. Greenspan and Nancy Thorndike Greenspan 2010
Overcoming ADHD: Helping Your Child Become Calm, Engaged, and Focused–Without a Pill by Stanley I. Greenspan and Jacob Greenspan 2009
Play to Grow!: Over 200 games to help your child on the autism spectrum develop fundamental social skills by Tali Field Berman and Abby Rappaport 2008
Replays: Using Play to Enhance Emotional and Behavioral Development for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders by Karen Levine and Naomi Chedd 2007
Great Kids: Helping Your Baby and Child Develop the Ten Essential Qualities for a Healthy, Happy Life by Stanley I. Greenspan 2007
Children and Babies with Mood Swings: New Insights for Parents and Professionals by Stanley I. Greenspan, MD and Ira Glovinsky, PhD 2007
Autism in the Family: A Picture Book for Parents + Siblings with Flaps to Open by Sibylle Janert 2006
Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think by Stanley I. Greenspan and Serena Wieder 2006
Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Dr. Gordon Neufeld and Dr. Gabor Maté 2004
The First Idea: How Symbols, Language, and Intelligence Evolved from Our Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans by Stanley I. Greenspan and Stuart Shanker 2004
Autistischen Kindern Bruecken bauen Ein Elternratgeber by Sibylle Janert 2003
The Secure Child: Helping Our Children Feel Safe And Confident In A Changing World by Stanley I. Greenspan 2002
The Irreducible Needs Of Children: What Every Child Must Have To Grow, Learn, And Flourish by T. Berry Brazelton and Stanley I. Greenspan 2000
Building Healthy Minds: The Six Experiences That Create Intelligence And Emotional Growth In Babies And Young Children by Stanley I. Greenspan and Nancy Lewis 1999
The Child With Special Needs: Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth by Stanley I. Greenspan, Serena Wieder, and Robin Simons 1998
The Challenging Child: Understanding, Raising, and Enjoying the Five “Difficult” Types of Children by Stanley I. Greenspan and Jacqueline Salmon 1995
The Essential Partnership: How Parents and Children Can Meet the Emotional Challenges of Infancy by Stanley I. Greenspan and Nancy Thorndike Greenspan 1989
First Feelings: Milestones in the Emotional Development of Your Baby and Child by Stanley I. Greenspan and Nancy Thorndike Greenspan 1985
Thinking Goes to School: Piaget’s Theory in Practice by Hans G. Furth and Harry Wachs 1974